How To Air Seal Attic Hatch

The stops provide a wider surface for attaching the weatherstrip and a space to mount hook and eye fasteners.

How to air seal attic hatch.

How to seal air leaks you can seal most air leaks with a combination of caulk weatherstripping expandable foam spray and mastic sealant. Pray that the installer used finish nails and not say ring shank nails. Air seal the trim the first step is air sealing the finish trim and enclosure around the attic hatch. Carefully pull down the finish trim.

In our ongoing series on air sealing we are going to focus on the dreaded attic hatch or as allison baile s of energy vanguard so eloquently calls it a mind blowing hole in your building envelope instead of crunching the numbers as he did one just needs to walk by one in a hallway during the middle of summer to know it isn t insulated. The door hatch should close all the way pressing down on the gasket to create a full seal. They also give you an easy area to add hook fasteners if needed. If your hatch rests directly on the moldings add 2 1 2 inch wide stops around the opening.

Use spray foam to air seal these openings if they exist. Cut 1 3 boards to fit the perimeter of the opening and nail them on with 6d finish nails. From inside the attic check for any openings holes or fenestrations into the knee wall surrounding area. Apply self adhesive foam weatherstrip tape to the top edge of the stop.

If the attic hatch rests on the molding you should add 2 1 2 inch stops around the entire opening. Weatherstrip the attic access hatch or door. Once you have the materials you can begin to seal and insulate the knee wall access door through these steps. These new wood stops provide a larger area for attaching new weatherstripping.

Inspect the weatherstripping gaskets around the attic hatch opening. Sealing the attic hatch or door finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking weather stripping.